You’ve got roughly 24 hours left to participate in our Free Agent Prediction Contest, so make sure you get your picks in before midnight Central time on Wednesday. Here’s the latest from around the league…
- “We’ll always listen,” said Clayton Kershaw to MLB Network Radio’s Jim Duquette and Jody McDonald when asked about a possible contract extension with the Dodgers. The left-hander did acknowledge that there have been “no conversations,” however.
- “Dan is healthy,” said agent Greg Landry to ESPN’s Buster Olney (Twitter link), referring to his client and free agent right-hander Dan Haren. There has been speculation that the Haren-Carlos Marmol swap fell apart because of concerns about Haren’s back.
- Lance Berkman’s agent Michael Moye told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com that his client will play next year if his knees are okay in December (Twitter link). Berkman has reportedly considered retirement due to ongoing knee problems.
- Ken Davidoff of The New York Post writes that the new collective bargaining agreement might speed up the offseason calender. We’ll know which free agents require draft pick compensation this Friday, but last year we had to wait until December 7th.
I’d expect a Kershaw extension to be talked about shortly after the new year and be done by or before ST
Agreed. Mangement is going to want to deal with the missing pieces first.
Kershaw is going to get the biggest contract every for a pitcher. It’s going to make Hamels, Lee, CC, and Zito contracts look like a joke…and he deserves it.
First $200 Million Contract for a Pitcher?
Doubt it. Probably about 7/175. Could see 8/200, but it would be a lot higher than the next closest. Him and Verlander will have the #1 and #2 contracts in a few years. However, Kershaw is probably the only pitcher GMs would give 200M to right now, considering age and performance
Don’t forget King Felix will become a FA at the ripe old age of 28, or being 29 during his 1st season with his possible new team during the 2015 season and Felix doesn’t get the press he deserves as does either Kershaw, nor Verlander and is every bit the SP of either of them
Kershaw is 24. Yes, 24. He could be the only pitcher that could get an 8 year deal and come off of it with a 6 year deal looking good too. Crazy
Oh I understand that 🙂
What I am thinking? LA is going to sign Kershaw.. That is a given.. By 2015? Sabathia isn’t going to be the lockdown Ace he is now and really.. Does ANYONE see an Ave elsewhere on that staff, even close in the minors? We hear talk, but really.. There isn’t one and Steinbrenner(s) aren’t going to tolerate the NYY without a lock down Ace.
That 189m payroll limitation we hear about isn’t going to make it past this year more than likely and if/when King felix becomes available.. The best SP since Sabathia? Remember when NY just started throwing more money than anyone thought plausable to lure someone who flat out SAID they wouldn’t sign there?
They jussstttt might offer that much if someone else gets involved. An ace to them is worth it is my guess.
I think everyone underestimates how much Felix really wants to stay in Seattle. I could be wrong, but I think he gets an extension within the next year.
Sadly, the day and time were a kid starts and finishes his career with one team is long gone. You have to wonder when the chance at winning could force a difficult decision from either Felix, the M’s or both.
I am actually thinking Kershaw could take a 6 yr/$150 mill deal and set himself up for another big contract when he is 30. You know dollars per year will be higher and he will still be in the prime of his career and can utilize that for a big pay day.
Mr. Kasten earlier alluded to pitchers “breaking”, so if he is the big say on this versus Mr. Walter, I would suspect bigger money over shorter years.
It’s possible but Kershaw is going to get big dollars AND big years. Kershaw is so much more of a sure bet than anyone on the FA market that the comment was referring to
I hope you are right, but my “shorter” equaled 4 years, 5 as a stretch, 7 or 8 as no way no how from the statement… Even with CK. It’s not that like 4 or 5 would be embarrassing or anything, especially at 25 per. This is the new Dodgers, and in house that is a heck of an offer, as that is what the asking price (annual part) may be as a starting point from the player on the free market, with a settlement at or slightly less for the winning team.
I disagree. This is Kershaw. He is 24. At 8 years, he’s 32. Crazy right? Any team would give him whatever he wanted, instantly. We have him and would be foolish to let him go. I would be shocked if A. The dodgers started at only 4 years, and B. if Kershaw didn’t throw it in their face.
I hope Kershaw stays a Dodger forever.
What else would Haren’s agent say? I’ve read rumors that the Angels not only wanted the Cubs to pay Haren’s entire salary, but also to include cash in the trade along with Marmol.
That Pujols signing is hurting them more and more every day. They are trying to shed all this salary just to have a little bit of wiggle room after bringing Greinke back (assuming it happens). Now, with that being said, LA needs to be careful with how they position themselves. Before they know it Trout is going to have broken every arbitration record and become extremely expensive, and a young free agent that will command one of the richest contracts in the game. They have a tough situation on there hands, so it seems. They wanted the splash, and after just one year, between more decline in Pujols production and knowing you have 9 more years to pay, it seems like it was a terrible idea.
Probably the 2nd to next boat anchor and impossible contract to move without paying 80-90% of the total if not moved immediately, right after Fielder even though Fielder is younger expect him to be a bust sooner and Votto’s 10Y contract following Pujols.
Teams will cease the 10Y deals again for awhile more than likely, they stopped after Wayne Garland got his in ’77, pitched 1 season and blew his shoulder out 100% (rotator cuff) then just pitched bits and pieces of 4 more seasons before retiring and THANKFULLY retiring and letting Cleveland keep the money owed on the last 5Y of the deal.
10Y deals are bad news, no reason to give them out to any one for any reason and serve -0- purpose except tie up a team’s salary far beyond when they will even be minimally useful. rodriquez now is a prime example with 5Y and 100m left they can’t give away.
Deal like Pujols and Fielder weren’t made because the teams expect their performance to live up to their contracts. It’s because w/ new TV deals being negotiated between 2011-2014, the owners thought that having a “big splash” and maybe winning a world series in the next few years would be the tipping point toward securing a higher-dollar TV contract.
Personally I think the longer-term 9-figure/year TV contracts are going to be defaulted on and the whole escalating payroll situation in Baseball will pop as a gigantic bubble. I just don’t see there being enough people in the world wiling to pay exorbitant TV packages to support these revenues forever.
Berkman for Bay?
When Kershaw throws his slider correctly, he could put pleats in clothing by pitching at them.
dodgers got burned by the Kevin Brown contract but he was already 30+ when they signed him into that insanely long and lucrative deal, plus a new cba had just been approved and FA spending was off the charts in terms of FA overpayment in years and $’s.
Kershaw is as close to a sure thing to take this kind of big-balls risk on a starting pitcher.
Kershaw was on the radio last week here in Dallas and said he was really looking forward to free agency. He said he enjoyed being a Dodger but was open to anything when his contract played out.
kershaw is a life timer in la
I think so too, but Highland Park (Dallas) is home.